Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM)
The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM) was set up in 1998 to evaluate the safety of all the vitamins and minerals essential to health plus those currently available as food supplements or used in fortified foods.
EVM was made up of 11 members including scientists and representatives of consumer organisations and industry.
The group carried out a detailed toxicological review, including thorough risk assessments, with particular reference to safety for long-term use. As part of their drive to make their working methods as open as practically possible, the agenda, minutes, draft scientific reviews of each nutrient, and other working papers from each meeting were made available on this website throughout the process.
Observers attended meetings and comments and data were invited from both individuals and groups. In August 2002, a draft report was published giving all those interested in the work of the committee 12 weeks to comment.
There were 103 responses and EVM met in February 2003 to discuss these and finalise the report.
Publication of the final EVM report, which provides invaluable information for health professionals, and is essential reading for the food industry, academics and anyone who takes supplements, completes the work of the EVM.
You can read the report as a pdf or order a copy of Safe upper levels for vitamins and minerals: report of the expert group on vitamins and minerals ISBN 1-904026-11-7 for £19.95 by contacting:
Food Standards Agency Publications
tel 0845 606 0667
email foodstandards@eclogistics.co.uk
Erratum for safe upper levels for vitamins and minerals
Please note the following errors in the final report:
Part 3 - Selenium
Page 239, line 4, 0.005 mg/kg bw/day should read 0.0075 mg/kg bw/day.
Part 4 – Potassium
Page 299, occurrence in food, food supplements and medicines
All units in the first paragraph should read g/kg and not mg/kg.
Related links
(pdf 1MB)More about the EVM
More information on the EVM, including details of its work and its terms of reference.
Meetings of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals
A list of meeting dates, minutes, and agendas of EVM meetings.
Order or download the final report
This is the most comprehensive review of the safety of vitamins and minerals undertaken in Europe to date. The process involved an assessment of more than 10,000 pieces of evidence on any harmful effects associated with each vitamin and mineral including an examination of international research.
Reviews and other papers
Individual detailed reviews of the vitamins and minerals under consideration by the EVM and other information papers used in the EVM's meetings.
EVM Press releases
Press releases of the EVM. EVM Press Releases issued before April 1 2000 are in the Archive section of this website.
Final report of the EVM
The final report of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals has made recommendations on 31 vitamins and minerals.